Author Archives: Pulse Cardiology Team

What is Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatlike substance that travels around the bloodstream of an individual.

It is subdivided into two types –

• HDL (high-density lipoproteins) and
• LDL (low-density lipoproteins)

LDL is often called the bad cholesterol and HDL as the good cholesterol since high levels of the former lead to blocked arteries and ultimately to heart attacks.

HDL is called the good cholesterol as it helps in the removal of LDL from the blood of an individual by carrying LDL molecules back to the liver which then flushes it out of the individual’s body through urine and faecal matter.

So, it is very important to have high HDL levels in one’s blood.

How to increase HDL

Well, that is pretty easy. All one would need to do is eat food items rich in good fats instead of the ones that are packed with bad or saturated fats.

In simple terms, one would need to avoid eating food items rich in saturated fats such as –

• Full-fat milk/cheese
• High-fat meats like beef/bacon
• Food items made using lard/butter
• Trans fats such as margarine, fried food items and
• Processed food items like baked goods.

One would need to increase their intake of food items packed with unsaturated fats such as avocados and ensure they are preparing their food using vegetable oils, like olive oil. They would also need to develop the habit of eating nuts, oatmeal and beans, regularly.

Does high cholesterol cause heart attacks?

Well, a study conducted in 2016 established the fact that people with high HDL levels and low LDL levels in their blood have low chances of getting diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.

It is evident that cholesterol and heart disease go hand in hand, especially when a person leads a sedentary lifestyle and does little to no physical activity. Researchers have strongly established that excessive LDL cholesterol levels in one’s blood could result in plaque build-up in the inner walls of the person’s arteries. This is known as atherosclerosis.

If this goes on unchecked then the arteries of the person would become narrower with each passing day. This would make it harder for the heart of the patient to do its job and ensure the efficient flow of blood throughout the body. This is the result of poor blood delivery to the heart muscles leading sections of the organ to die that ultimately would lead to a heart attack.

Symptoms of high cholesterol

Well, here is the catch –

If a person has high cholesterol levels in his/her blood, then no apparent symptoms are exhibited.

Hence, it is imperative that people periodically visit their doctor, get their blood examined and ascertain the exact percentage of cholesterol in their blood. It is the only way one can reduce their chances of getting diagnosed with heart disease and subsequently, reduce their chances of having a heart attack.

Cholesterol is helpful for your body but in small amounts. It helps your body by insulating nerve cells. It also helps your body to produce new cells as well as essential hormones. Your body produces all the cholesterol it needs in your liver but it can also enter in your system through your diet. As it is already established that too much of it could lead to cardiovascular disease, it is best to keep your blood cholesterol levels under control by leading an active lifestyle and eating healthy. Also, be sure to visit your doctor and ascertain the condition of your heart, periodically.

To book your consultation with one of our highly qualified cardiologists in San Bernardino, Riverside, or Rancho Cucamonga, please contact us.

What is Rheumatic Heart Disease

Rheumatic heart disease is a medical condition where the patient’s heart valves have sustained permanent damage due to rheumatic fever.

Patients with this disease, during an examination, may exhibit a rub or murmur that can be picked up by medical instruments.

Complications of Rheumatic Heart Disease

This cardiovascular disease may or may not lead to the following medical conditions – 

• Heart failure – a common side effect that is the result of a severely narrowed or a leaking heart valve.
• Bacterial endocarditis – an infection of the affected heart’s inner lining due to damages sustained by the valves of the same after the patient has come down with rheumatic fever.
• In case the patient is female and is pregnant, she may have complications during the trimesters or child delivery. These are telltale signs of heart damage. Hence women with this disease should consult with their doctors before getting pregnant. 
• The heart valves of the patient could get ruptured.

Symptoms

Symptoms of rheumatic heart disease are as follows:

• The patient may or may not suffer from shortness of breath or have difficulty breathing normally.
• The patient may or may not go through unexplained bouts of dizziness or weakness – even when the patient hasn’t participated in any strenuous activity.
• The patient may or may not feel a sense of discomfort in their chest.
• The patient may or may not suffer from palpitation spells.
• The patient’s ankles, abdomen or their feet may or may not swell.
• The patient may or may not suffer from rapid weight gain.

Treatment

Treatment of rheumatic heart disease depends on the degree of damage the heart of the patient in question, has suffered.

The disease mainly targets the valves of the human heart, hence; if the valves have completely lost their ability to function properly, surgery is the only option from this predicament. The affected valves will be replaced with artificial valves.

In the end, it is best to keep in mind that to steer clear from surgery, one should ensure that they are not falling prey to rheumatic fever.

In case they do, they should start a course of antibiotics right away in a bid to keep strep infections and rheumatic fever under control, thereby keeping this heart disease at bay.

Click here to learn more about Mitral Valve Replacement, Symptoms, and Treatment

Often, in mild cases or the early stages of the disease, the patient may or may not be prescribed by their doctor with anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs reduce inflammation thereby reducing the chances of the affected heart from sustaining further damage.

Rheumatic heart disease is preventable given patients who are diagnosed with strep infections and rheumatic fever, takes the necessary steps such as treating the conditions using antibiotics, right away. Patients should take antibiotics as per the instructions provided in their prescriptions and ensure that they are completing the course. In case, a patient does get diagnosed with this heart disease, they must impose certain restrictions on themselves so that they are staying away from strenuous activities.

To book your consultation with one of our highly qualified cardiologists in San Bernardino, Riverside, or Rancho Cucamonga, please contact us.

What is Tachycardia

Tachycardia is a medical condition where the heart of the affected individual beats more than 100 times a minute. This leads to a considerable drop on the overall efficiency of the heart thus leading to a condition where the myocardial cells will not receive enough oxygen, which ultimately, leads to cellular death. This could lead to a stroke and even a fatal heart attack.

What causes Tachycardia

Well, the reasons may or may not be the following illnesses, situations or underlying medical conditions –

• It could show up due to congenital abnormalities of the heart in the patient.
• If the patient is an alcoholic then the chances of getting diagnosed with this cardiovascular disease are pretty high.
• If the patient abuses recreational drugs like cocaine then he/she may or may not get diagnosed with this heart disease.
• It could be a telltale sign that the patient has sustained damage to his/her heart tissue, or is well on his/her way to get diagnosed with coronary artery disease, a malfunctioning heart valve, tumors, or infections.
• It could simply indicate that the patient may be suffering from hypertension.
• It could also be a symptom of an overactive thyroid gland.
• In case the patient smokes heavily, the excess nicotine content in their blood could lead to this medical condition.
• It could also be categorized as a symptom in case the patient’s lungs are affected.

Symptoms of Tachycardia

Tachycardia symptoms may or may not comprise of the following –

• The patient may or may not suffer from excruciating bouts of chest pain.
• The patient may or may not feel confused.
• The patient may or may not feel dizzy.
• The patient may or may not have low blood pressure.
• The patient may or may not feel lightheaded when they suddenly stand up from a chair.
• The patient may or may not suffer from extended bouts of palpitations.
• The patient may or may not suffer from shortness of breath even when they have not participated in any strenuous activity.
• The patient may or may not feel weak suddenly.
• The patient may or may not lose consciousness suddenly.

Treatment of Tachycardia

Tachycardia treatment is available in a variety of forms.

Here is a rundown about them –

• Radiofrequency catheter ablation – where catheters are inserted into the heart via blood vessels. These catheters contain electrodes at their ends that are heated to either damage or ablate the sections of the heart tissue that is responsible for this medical condition.
• Medications – Anti-arrhythmic medications could be prescribed to a patient with this disease to prevent the same.
• ICD (Implantable cardioverter defibrillator) – is another effective treatment. It is a device that delivers electric shocks to the patient’s heart as soon as it detects abnormal heartbeat rate
• A doctor could also surgically remove certain problematic sections of the heart tissue that leads to this medical condition.

In case you have an underlying heart issue, you must visit your doctor regularly in a bid to monitor the overall condition of your circulatory system. This would prove beneficial for you by keeping you away from experiencing tachycardia or related medical conditions that affect the human heart.

Heart disease is a common side effect in people who have type-2 diabetes. According to statistics released by the National Heart Association in 2012, more than sixty per cent of people diagnosed with diabetes have a high chance of getting diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.

It is safe to state that diabetes and heart disease have a strong relationship with one another that proves fatal to humans, in most of the cases, especially when proper medical care is not administered to the patient, on time.

Relationship between diabetes and heart disease

Apart from the data shared by National Heart Associated in 2012, several studies have proven over the years that there is a strong relationship between diabetes and heart disease.

For instance –

There is the Framingham Study where researchers took a close look at several generations of people who had diabetes. After that, the researchers tried to determine the health risk factors that could lead to these people developing heart disease. Their research results showed that diabetes increases the chances of a person developing heart disease!

Another medical study also proved that individuals with diabetes, even when they do not have heart disease risk factors, such as –

• A habit of smoking
• A family history riddled with heart disease
• A drinking problem
• A habit of recreational drug abuse, etc. – can get diagnosed with heart disease if they are diagnosed with diabetes and it proceeds to type – 2!

How does diabetes affect the heart

It is evident by now that heart disease and diabetes have a close relationship that is fatal for the human body in the long run but, how does diabetes affect the heart?

Well, diabetes leads to hardening of the arteries – a medical condition called Atherosclerosis. It is the result of cholesterol that builds up in the blood vessels thereby posing as a hurdle for nutrient-laden oxygenated blood to the heart.

This could lead to brain-stroke, and lack of blood in your limbs thus paving the way for the peripheral vascular disease to get a hold on you.

Diabetes and heart disease symptoms

Diabetes leads to silent heart attacks – a condition where you won’t even feel that you have had a heart attack! Diabetes and heart disease symptoms differ from the symptoms of traditional heart disease.

Here is a list of signs that you need to keep an eye out for –

• Sudden bouts of dizziness.
• Fainting when you suddenly try to stand up.
• You feel out of breath even after a short walk on your treadmill.
• You are sweating more than usual.
• Issues with your tummy such as indigestion, bloating or an upset stomach.
• You are often feeling lightheaded.
• You feel tired even after you have had a good night’s sleep.
• Heartburn.
• You are feeling pain in your jaw, left arm or neck.

If you still think that diabetes cannot lead to life-threatening heart disease – well, it is evident there is a strong relationship between diabetes and heart disease. Silent heart attacks leave scars on your heart tissue which affects the overall efficiency of the organ. If you do not seek proper medical care, the chances of you having a fatal heart attack triples. Take care and keep an eye out for the aforementioned symptoms.

What is Hypertension

The common term for hypertension is high blood pressure. Blood pressure is measured by taking into account how much blood passes through the blood vessels and the amount of resistance the blood meets while the heart is pumping.

If one has a healthy heart and arteries then the blood pressure will be at an optimum level. When the arteries get clogged down by plaque formation, they get narrowed and therefore offer more resistance to the blood flow. The narrower the arteries, there will be an increased resistance which will lead to high blood pressure, known as hypertension. If one has hypertension for a long period of time, then it can lead to cardiovascular diseases as well.

Symptoms of Hypertension

At time, it may be difficult to diagnosis hypertension as the symptoms are not easy to point out. Hypertension symptoms are very common so they often get missed. Some of the symptoms are:-

• Constant headache or sudden bouts of headache
• Shortness of breath
• Nosebleeds
• Dizziness
• Vision problems
• Blood in urine
• Irregular heartbeat

As you can see, these are not very specific symptoms. Many of these do not occur until one has had high blood pressure for a long period of time.

Causes of Hypertension

Let us examine the different causes of hypertension. It is very hard to find the primary cause of hypertension as it develops gradually over the years and as the arteries narrow down. This type of hypertension is known as Primary or Essential Hypertension.

Another cause of hypertension, known as Secondary Hypertension, which is caused when people have some underlying health conditions, such as kidney problems, thyroid problems, and obstructive sleep apnea. Another secondary cause can be the use of certain medications , such as birth control pills, decongestants, and some prescription drugs.

Click here to learn more about Cholesterol and how it affects the heart

In today’s challenging times, hypertension is becoming a very common condition. Although medications are available for treatment, but the best way to control high blood pressure is through significant lifestyle changes. More importantly, one should exercise and eat healthy on a daily basis to avoid these conditions.

If you would like to schedule an appointment at one of our convenient locations in the Inland Empire; San Bernardino, Riverside, and Rancho Cucamonga, please call our office directly: +1 (909) 881-7400

What is a Stress Test

The heart is the most important organ of the body. It is very important that it functions properly so that blood gets pumped to the whole body. Due to different circumstances or family history, a heart might develop abnormalities or might function improperly. In order to check for different heart conditions, a doctor might prescribe different types of heart tests to make the right diagnosis, such as a stress test.

One such test is the Stress Test, known as an exercise test or treadmill test, that might be prescribed by your doctor if you have symptoms of a heart problem, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, or dizziness. In a stress test, the person is made to walk or run on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike so the heartbeat and blood pressure are monitored to see how well the heart is functioning. With this type of test, there is increased physical activity which leads to stress on the heart, and this test is used to monitor how the heart functions under these conditions.

Why is it Done

Let us examine when your doctor can recommend you to go for a treadmill test:-

1. Family History Of Heart Problem:- If you have a family history of heart-related problems, then your family doctor might recommend you to go for different tests, and most commonly, an exercise test will be one of the them.
2. Arrhythmias:- If a patient is displaying symptoms of heart rhythm problems, that is either the heart beats too fast or too slowly, then the patient might be asked to go for a stress test. During the stress test, as the whole heartbeat working can be monitored.  
3. Advance Cardiovascular Test:- If there is any suspected heart condition, such as Coronary Artery Disease, then the doctor may prescribe any more cardiovascular or other invasive tests.
4. Checking Response To Heart Treatments:- If someone is already diagnosed with a heart condition and is having a treatment done, then in order to check the effectiveness of the treatment, the doctor can ask to go for the exercise test in order to see how well it is working.
5. Evaluate The Heart Health:- A stress test is even prescribed to people who are signing up for special tasks which require a lot of physical activity or any program that is required to have a healthy heart.

The stress test is one of the basic and completely non-invasive cardiovascular test to find out how well your heart is functioning.

What is a Cardiology Consultation

A cardiology consultation is primarily related to the diagnosis of the heart and heart-related conditions. Usually, your family doctor might ask you to see a cardiologist in order to evaluate your heart condition. If that is not the case, even then a after a certain age, it is very important to have regular cardiology consultations so that one is aware of their cardiovascular health. Regular checkups with your cardiologist helps detect any heart abnormality or heart disorder in time and can be controlled with lifestyle changes or few medications, and perhaps, not require major surgeries.

Cardiac Tests Performed

At Pulse Cardiology a series of tests to access the health of the heart. Let us take a look at what sort of cardiac tests are performed:-

Blood Test:- This is the most basic test which is done in most of the analysis of the conditions. One might think how can a blood test help in cardiology consultations. Well, a blood test helps measure the level of the substance in your blood, for example, cholesterol, triglycerides, minerals, etc which helps a cardiologist know what would be the effect of these substances on your heart.

Stress Test:- This is a type of exercise test in which the heart rate is monitored doing some sort of physical activity, for example, running on a treadmill to see the condition of the heart and how your heart rate is under physical stress.

Cardiac Angiography:- This is one of the direct tests to check the state of the heart. During this procedure, a catheter is inserted in the person’s artery through the groin or arm to check any blockage in the arteries due to the formation of plaque. It is a minimally invasive procedure to check the heart.

Echocardiography:- In simple terms, it is a kind of ultrasound of the heart. This test is done through the use of electrodes and sound waves are used to create the image of the heart and its four valves. In this test, moving pictures of the heart are generated so the cardiologist can see how well the blood flow is or if there are any abnormalities.

Electrocardiogram:- This is known as an ECG or EKG. During this test, the electrodes are placed on the heart to record the electrical signals of the heart. It helps to measure the heart rate and check for any abnormalities in the heart. This is one of the most common tests which is done, and not only it is fast, but also painless.

Click Here to learn more about an Electrocardiogram and Why it is done

Visiting a cardiologist from time to time for a consultation is good for everyone regardless of age, especially if you have a family history of heart conditions. Regular cardiac tests can help prevent any serious heart conditions and with timely lifestyle changes, one can lead a healthy life with a healthy functioning heart.

If you would to visit one of our highly qualified cardiologists, please call our office: +1 (909) 881-7400

What is a CT Coronary Angiogram

A CT coronary Angiogram is the short form of Computerized Tomography Coronary Angiogram. In this process, a powerful X-ray machine is used to produce images of the heart and the blood vessels that go to the heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, head, neck, legs, and arms. It is a non-invasive procedure and any heart or coronary artery disease can be diagnosed through this process.

A CT Coronary Angiogram can clearly show narrowed or blocked areas of blood vessels due to build-up of cholesterol, known as plaque. Before CT angiogram came into use, there was standard angiogram done which was more evasive in nature as in that a thin tube called a catheter, was inserted through an artery in your arm or leg up to the area where the problem was to be studied. Nowadays, in a CT coronary angiogram, no use of tube is needed any longer. The patient is injected with a special dye so that blood vessels can be easily seen on the scan.

Why is it done

Here are a few reasons why a CT angiogram is done:

• To detect any type of coronary arteries diseases. The most common of which is the build up of plaque inside the arteries due to high cholesterol and calcium, which causes the arteries to become narrow or leads to blockage.
• When there is a buildup of fluid around the heart. This condition is known as Pericarditis and can lead to major heart problems.
• If any of the four valves of the heart are not operating properly, then an X-ray is also done.
• If the doctor suspects that a person has Peripheral Arterial Disease, a CT angiogram can be done. This is a condition in which the arteries are narrowing down, not only in the heart, but in other parts of the body.

Click here to learn more about an Electrocardiogram procedure

This is one of the best non-invasive procedures to detect various conditions related to the heart and blood vessels. It is very effective and has fewer complications.

What is Heart Disease

The heart is the most important part of the body as it pumps blood for the whole body to operate. Any condition that affects the heart structure and its functioning is known as heart disease. There are different types of heart disease as they affect different parts of the heart.

Types of Heart Disease

Coronary Artery Disease:- This is one of the most common condition which affects a large population. The arteries carrying the blood to and from the heart are narrowed due to the formation of fat deposits, known as plaque. This plaque formation is due to cholesterol increase. If this heart condition is not taken care of within time, it can lead to serious complications, such as a heart attack.

Arrhythmia:- This is a condition in which the heartbeat rhythms are affected. In this heart condition, the heartbeat becomes irregular. The electrical impulses to the heart do not work/function properly. With Arrhythmia, either the heart beats too fast known, as Tachycardia, or it beats too slow, known as Bradycardia. Some changes in heartbeats are common, but when they occur too much or too regular, then it is known as Cardiac Arrhythmia. This occurs due to a damaged heart and immediate treatment is needed before it turns fatal.

Congenital Heart Disease:- Not all conditions are caused due to lifestyle or stress, but sometimes these defects are at the time of birth. Such heart diseases which one is born with are known as Congenital Heart Disease. The most common ones are septal defects in which a child is born with a hole between the two chambers of the heart. In other times, a child is born with obstruction defects in which from the very start, the flow of blood through the various chambers of heart and arteries is blocked.

Valve Disease:- The heart has four valves known; Pulmonary, Tricuspid, Aortic, and Mitral. When any of these four or all four do not function properly, one suffers from Valve Disease of the heart. All these four valves make sure that blood floods in the right direction. If any of these stop opening or closing properly, the blood flow gets affected. One of the most common valvular disease is known as Heart Valve Stenosis. This occurs when the valve does not open fully. In regurgitation, the valve does not close properly and blood leaks backward. When all the four-valve are affected, it is known as Multiple Valvular Heart Disease.

Heart failure:- This is the most serious kind of heart disease, and it can be fatal. This condition develops due to damaged or weakened heart. The most common reason for this is a heart attack and high blood pressure. This heart condition is not completely treatable, but if diagnosed in time, it can be controlled with a change of lifestyle and medications.

With the progress in medical science, most of the heart disease conditions nowadays have treatment. However, one should make sure to lead a healthy and active lifestyle to avoid heart complications in the future.

What is Heart Disease

All the organs of the body are very important in their own way but the heart is one organ that needs to be functioning properly so that the body can operate at its best capacity. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide, especially with the changing lifestyles and increased stress. The heart is the muscle of the body which pumps blood to the rest of the body for functioning with the help of arteries and veins. If arteries, veins, or the heart muscle stops functioning properly due to any reason, that person suffers from heart diseases.

Heart disease can be due to many underlying conditions or even hereditary reasons. Heart disease can be described by several diseases mentioned below:-

1. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD): This is a major type of heart condition mostly suffered by the majority of people. This occurs due to the blockage of arteries due to fat deposits causing improper circulation of blood.
2. Arrhythmia is a heart condition in which the heartbeats are irregular. Heartbeats can be too fast, too slow or irregular.
3. Heart Valve Disease is the condition when any of the four valves of the heart get affected or stops functioning.
4. Heart failure is the condition wherein the heart muscles just collapse and cannot pump enough blood to the body. It can be a very fatal condition.

Heart Disease Diagnosis

With the advancement of medical science, there are many ways for doctors to evaluate heart disease. Some of these methods are:-

Blood tests:- This is the most common way to check for any problems our body might be having. Blood samples are taken to see if there are signs of any conditions, such as high cholesterol, which can affect the heart.

Electrocardiogram:- Commonly known as ECG, a test done with the use of electrodes records the electrical activity of a person’s heart. Through this test, the doctor can see any problem with the heart rhythm and any subsequent damage to the heart.

Scans:- Different scans are done to take the best images of the heart to do the correct diagnosis. Some of these are cardiac computerized tomography, commonly known as CT Scan or MRI, which is known as Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Invasive Procedures:- Although these are minimally invasive methods, but procedures like Coronary Angiogram or Myocardial biopsy are performed by doctors to find out the extents of blockages in the heart.

Heart Disease Treatment

The best and long term method for treating any heart condition is making good lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and stress management. However, sometimes these changes are difficult to be met so one has to take medications as prescribed by the doctor. At times, when the diagnosis is done at a later stage or the heart is in serious condition, one has to go for invasive procedures, for example, coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve surgery, implantable pacemaker, and lastly, heart transplant. 

It is imperative to consult with a cardiologist for complete testing and treatment to ensure a healthy lifestyle and avoid further heart complications.